Method of pouncing hats



7 June 13, 1944.

P. SCHULTZE I METHOD OF POUNCING HATS Original Filed Aug. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Paul Schuitze ATTORNEYS Patented June 13, 1944 METHOD OF POUNCING HATS Paul Schultze, Danbury, Conn., assignor to John C. Doran, doing business as Doran Brothers, Incorporated, Danbury, Conn.

Original application August 24, 1938, Serial No.

226,442. Divided and this application Decemher 1, 1939, Serial No. 307,039

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of pouncing or finishing hat bodies.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a method for finishing hat bodies which is simple, efficient and capable of being eifectuated by untrained personnel. Another object is to provide a method of the above nature capable of imparting a smooth velvety and uniform finish to a hat without the production of any tool marks thereon. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.-

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown several embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of a machine for carrying out my method;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation partly in section of the tool shown in Figure 1 operating on a hat mounted on the hat block; I

and,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the hat block supporting and operating head of the machine shown in Figure 1. This view also is illustrative of a modification of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various views of the drawings. This application is a divisionof my copending application Serial No. 226,442, filed August 24, 1938, entitled Pouncing machine," which issued on October 28, 1941, as United States Patent No. 2,260,956.

While the machine described in my abovenoted patent is particularly well adapted to pouncing blocked hats, it is necessary to pounce unblocked hats, particularly hat bodies being prepared for the manufacture of womens hats. Such hat bodies often have no definite head size, and often are quite deep and generally conical in shape. Hat bodies of this nature accordingly preclude the mounting thereof on conventional hat blocks turned to a definite head size for conformation. Therefore, to obviate the difficulties encountered in hand pouncing such hat bodies, the pouncing machine shown in Figure 1 s directed. In general organization, this machine is piece of felt I32 or the like.

and accordingly includes column In comprising base II, a motor housing I2 and extension I3. However, a special head generally indicated at III is mounted on extension I3 and this head rotatably mounts a spindle II2 driven by motor 23 through pulleys H3, H4 and belt II5. As is more clearly shown in Figure 3, spindle I I2 is rotatably mounted in a journal I I!v and is slidably mounted for rotation and also axial movement within a journal I Ila, the spindle having associated therewith clutch mechanism generally indicated at I I8 which is operated by engaging and disengaging apparatus generally indicated at H9. For a detailed description of the details of construction and operation of the spindle clutch and its operating mechanism, reference is made to my United States Patent N 0. 2,105,130.

The left-hand end of spindle H2, as viewed in Figure 3, has securedthereto a back support generally indicated at I having a tubular hub portion I2I, which carries anti-friction bearings I22 and I23 in which a reduced end II2a. of spindle H2 is rotatably mounted. The lower end of back support I20 has a boss I24 in which is secured an end I25a of a rod I25, to the other end of which a piston I26 is attached. Piston I26 is adapted to reciprocate in a cylinder I21 secured to head III, as oil under pressure is fed into one end or the other of the cylinder, as particularly described in my above-noted U. S. Patent No. 2,105,130. When piston I26 is actuated, as noted in my patent, spindle H2, and accordingly support I20, are moved axially and this for a purpose to be described.

The extreme end IIZb of spindle H2 is further reduced and has secured thereto so as to rotate therewith a spider I28. The right-hand end of spider I28, as viewed in FigureS, is formed in an annulus or ring I29 and has secured thereto a 'block I30 as by screws I3I, block I30 having a generally frusto-conical shape. The outer surface of the block is covered preferably with a Back support I20 at its larger end I 20a is annular and has attached thereto a hood I33 by bolts I34.

As is more clearly shown in Figure'l, hood I33 has an enlarged slot I formed therein and extending from near the base of the hood over the tip or rounded end of the hood, so as to expose a substantial portion of felt covered block I30. Hood I33 is so mounted that slot I35 is arranged in registry with pouncing tool 30 so that when the tool traverses a hat body mounted on the hood, it travels in a path extending from the tip similar to that shown in my abovemoted patent, of .the hat toward the brim thereof. As noted spindle, and accordingly hood I33 is automaticali-j ly actuated to move the hat body past the tool as.

the tool continues to operate until all portions'of the hat have been pounced, and thereafter reverse the movement of the hat back to the point where reversal of the movement of the tool is automatically begun. g Heretofore hat manufacturers have been unable to automatically pounce all portions of the hat in a continuous operation at a uniform rate. v

This is, of course, desirable as it not only expedites the finishing of the hat,.and accordingly reduces the cost thereof, but also imparts to the hat a finish far superior to that attained by hand pcunching or other known methods. It has usually. been the practice to remove the hat from the machine after the crown has been pounced, and thereafter finish 'the brim on a special brim pouncing machine. In accordance with the method of pouncing contemplated herein, how ever, the hat is pounced from its tip to the outer edge of its brim in one continuous operation and at a uniform rate, thus leaving no'tool marks between the hat tip .and brim edge as would otherwise be the case, and eliminating the separate brim pouncing operation with the loss of time and labor attendant thereto. Thus, by rotating the hat'at a uniform speed and pouncing the outer surface of the rotating. hat continuously and at a uniform rate along a path extending. from the tip of the hat to the outer edge ofthe brim thereof,- all without removing the pouncing pad therefrom, a superior finish is imparted to the hat and substantial savings in the cost of manufacture thereof are effected.

In view of the fact that hat bodies pounced on the-machine just described vary substantially in head size, I have provided means for holding the hat in a position where the tool can operate on it and also for feeding the hat past the elliptically moving tool. This holding and feeding mechanism, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a system of piping I36 connected to a suitable source of compressed air, and connected at its upper end'to a header I31 from which a pair of pipes I38 and I39 lead respectively to Ts I40 and MI. Each of these Ts has connected there- 'to a pair of pipes I42 and, I43 which terminate in nozzles or jets I44 and I45, respectively, at the bottom and top edges of pouncing pad 300. and adjacent the operative surface thereof. As is best shown in Figure2, nozzles I44 and I45 are so the direction of the arrow, and asits lower por; tion I46a moves over the bottom ed e of's'lot'I'SB,

the airpress'ure'from nozzles I44 forces it against felt covered block I35. Similarly, as upper portion I46b oflthehat moves against the upper edge ofslot I35, the hat is peeled from the 'hat'block so as to ride over the outer surface of hood I33. 7 6

Hence, it may be seen that that part of the hat between portions M611 and M61) thereof is held against the rotating hat block in a position where it may be worked on by pouncing tool 30.

If for any reason the hat body I46 is not of sufiicient depth to completely cover slot I35 shown in Figure 1, a suitable shutter or the like (not shown) may be provided for hood I33 to cover that portion of slot I35 not covered by the V hat body. Air pipes I36 may be connected in any suitable manner to tool assembly 28 and have any type of suitable connection such as ball and socket joints or flexible tubing, which will not interfere with the free swiveling of the tool assembly. Furthermore, by the provision of the symmetrically placed nozzles I44 and I45, i. e. symmetrical with respect to .pouncing pad 30a, the air pressure against the hat on each side of the pouncing pad is substantially equal and accordingly tends to keep the pad in proper tangential position with respect to th hat block without, however, adversely affecting free swiveling of the pouncing tool.

Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to hold the hat body against hood I35 by negative pressure instead of positive pressure. In viewof the fact that the only opening in hood I33 is that provided by slot I35, a partial vacuum can be maintained within the hood when a hat body is placed thereover so as to cover the slot. This partial vacuum has the same effect in holding a hat body against block I30 as does the positive pressure exerted by the jets directed against the outer surface of the hat body. Hence, with reference to Figure 3, I have provided a pipe fitting I4I registerin with an opening I48 in back support IZII. Any suitable piping (not shown) may be connected to fitting I41 and with any suitable evacuating system. If desired, a pump (not shown) may be disposed within column extension I3'or elsewhere in or on themachine and pneumatically connected with fitting I41 and accordingly with the inside of hood I33. It follows, that upon operation of such a pump, air is sucked from within the hood, and a hat disposed thereon is pulled against block I 30 so as to rotate therewith as hereinbefore described.

Accordingly I have provided a method of pouncing hat bodies which accomplishes the various objects hereinbefore set forth in a thoroughly practical and efiicient manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departirig from the scope of-the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore "set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is" to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: V Y 1. The method of pouncing a hatwhlch includes the steps of, supporting the hat closely adjacent but out of contactwith a rotating block, fo'fcinga portion only of vthe'hat against the blockfto effect rotation of the'hat, and, continuously ab'racling the rotating hat along a path extending: from the tip to the brimedgeof the hat.

2.. The method of pouncin g a hat which includ'e'sthe' stepsof; supporting the hat closely adjacent but out of contact with a rotating'block, forcing a portion only of the hat against the block to' effect rotation of the hat, and corrtinuously abrading the rotating-hat ata uniform rate along a path extending from the tip of the hat to the brim edge of the hat;

3. The method of pouncing a hat which includes the steps of, supporting the hat closely adjacent but out of contact with a rotating block, forcing a portion only of the hat against the block to eifect rotation of the hat, and continuously abrading the rotating hat; at a uniform rate along a path extending from the tip of the hat to the brim edge of the hat and back again over the same path.

4. The method of pouncing a hat which includes in the order named the steps of, supporting a hat, forcing a portion only of the hat against a rotating block to effect rotation of the hat, engaging the hat with an abrading tool immediately adjacent that portion of the hat being forced against the block, and efl'ecting relative movement between the abrading tool and the hat so that the hat is pounced along a path extending from the tip of the hat to the brim edge of the hat.

5. The method of pouncing a hat which includes in the order named the steps of, loosely supporting the hat adjacent a rotating member, forcing a portion of the hat against said member to create a driving relation therebetween and accordingly rotate the hat, engaging the hat with an abrading too1 immediately adjacent that portion of the hat which is in engagement with said member, and relatively moving the abrading tool and the hat to pounce the hat.

6. The method of pouncing a hat which includes in the order named the steps of, loosely supporting the hat adjacent a rotating member, forcing a portion of the hat against said member to create a driving relation therebetween and accordingly rotate the hat, engaging the hat with an abrading tool immediately adjacent that portion of the hat which is in engagement with said member, and moving the abrading tool over the hat along a path extending between the tip and brim edge of the hat.

'7. The method of pouncing a hat which in- .cludes in the order named the steps of, supporting a partially blocked hat adjacent a rotating member so that the brim of the hat extends outwardly away from said member, effecting engagement between the hat and said member to rotate the hat, engaging the hat fwith an abrading tool, effecting relative movement between the abrading tool and the hat along a path extending between the tip and the brim edge of the hat, and forcing the hat brim against said member as the abrading tool passes over the hat brim so that the hat is continuously and uninterruptedly pounced from tip to brim edge.

8. The method of pouncing a hat which includes in the order named the steps of, mounting a hat in closely spaced relation to a hat rotating member, effecting engagement between said member and a portion of the hat, said hat being partially blocked so that its brim extends outwardly from said member, moving a pouncing tool over said hat along afpath extending between the tip and brim thereof, and flattening the brim of the hat against said member during the operation of the pouncing tool on the brim.

9. The method of pouncing a partially blocked hat which includes in the order named the steps of, supporting the hat adjacent but spaced from a rotating block, forcing a portion only of the hat against the block to efiect rotation of the hat, continuously abrading the rotating hat along a path extending between the tip to the brim edge of the hat, and flattening the brim of the hat against the rotating block during the abrasion of the brim, the brim being flattened against the block progressively ahead of the abrasion thereof.

10. The method of pouncing a partially blocked hat which includes the steps of, supporting the hat adjacent a rotating block, forcing a portion only of the hat against the blocl; to efiect rotation of the hat, continuously abrading the rotating hat along a path extending between the tip and the brim edge of the hat, forcing the brim of the hat against the block immediately before the abrasion of the brim, and holding the brim against the block during the abrasion of the brim.

PAUL SCHULTZE. 

